Iran says foiled sabotage attempts at nuclear sites

During the past months some cases of sabotage attempts were foiled by the help of the Intelligence Ministry and other security bodies, an Iranian nuclear official said in Tehran on Saturday.

Asghar Zare'an, the deputy director for protection and security at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, cited sabotage attempt in the Arak heavy water reactor (IR40) as one example.

Zare'an made the remarks on the sidelines of the ceremony during which some expert laboratories were launched to prevent industrial sabotage.

AEOI chief Ali Akbar Salehi was also present during the ceremony.

These laboratories, which have been designed by Iranian experts, are aimed to avoid dangers and improve the security of various nuclear sites, he said.

IR-40 is a 40 megawatt (thermal) heavy water reactor under construction near Arak. The International Atomic Energy Agency was informed on May 5, 2003 that construction would begin in June 2004. Iran announced that the reactor will begin nuclear operation in 2014.

The AEOI official also said sabotage of vital infrastructure, such as water, electricity, telecommunications, oil, power, nuclear, and defense installations, is one of the objectives of the arrogant powers.